News

Newport-Mesa Unified School District (NMUSD) launched a Chromebook initiative that will provide access for all students to a digital environment.

In fall 2016, implementation of the Chromebook initiative began with the Estancia Zone. This provided all students in grades K-7 with access to Chromebooks, with grades 3-7 being a one-to-one environment. Chromebooks were distributed to students in the Estancia Zone which includes TeWinkle Middle School, Adams, California, Pomona, Rea, Victoria and Wilson Elementary Schools.

Informational parent meetings were held at all schools. Traditional computer labs are being replaced with mobile technology and devices in the classroom.

With more devices in their hands, students will learn the benefits that technology has to offer by fine-tuning their foundational research skills, storing their projects and activities in the cloud, and sharing ideas in a safe and supportive online environment.

This initiative has led to increased use of technology in the classroom, with students using it for research, collaboration and to create new and exciting works, while teachers are finding new ways to engage students both in groups and individually. As professional development for staff is crucial part of the initiative, the Educational Technology Department has been providing training on best practices for using Chromebooks as an instructional tool, support for initial setup and lesson design using a co-teaching model and customized trainings based on skill level of staff. Digital Fellows and site technology coordinators at the schools also continue to provide support as needed.

The Initiative includes the following:

Kindergarten - 2nd grade: One shared classroom set of Chromebooks per grade level. Each classroom also receives 6 Chromebooks. Chromebooks remain at the school.

3rd - 4th grade: One classroom set of Chromebooks per class. Chromebooks remain at the school.

5th - 8th grades: In fifth grade students are assigned a Chromebook that they take home and keep until 9th grade. For the initial launch of the initiative all students in grades fifth through seventh were assigned a Chromebook.

9th grade: Students will be assigned a Chromebook in 9th grade that they take home and keep until they graduate. For the Initiative, 9th graders will receive Chromebooks in Year 2.

Students that are assigned Chromebooks to be taken home follow a similar approach to when textbooks are checked out from the library. They are responsible for ensuring the safe handling and charging of their Chromebooks.

For the 2017-18 school year, the Chromebook initiative is expected to be implemented throughout the Newport Harbor Zone in the same format as the Estancia Zone. The Newport Harbor Zone includes Kaiser, Mariners, Newport, Newport Heights, Whittier and Woodland Elementary Schools, as well as Ensign Intermediate and Newport Harbor High School. It is anticipated that the Chromebook initiative will be implemented in the Costa Mesa zone and Corona del Mar in the following years.

For more information about the Chromebook Initiative please contact edtech@nmusd.us.